A new program being piloted in Adelaide shows just how far cancer treatment has come, with more attention being given to helping survivors get back to their old lives.

The pilot study by the Centre for Cancer Innovation at Flinders Medical Centre is investigating the barriers cancer survivors face when returning to work. The study follows-on from a previous report which found readjusting to the demands of working life is one of the biggest concerns for patients after enduring months of chemotherapy and its side effects.

Professor Bogda Koczwara, head of medical oncology at Flinders Medical Centre says that as treatments improve more people are struggling with the practical, physical and emotional barriers of returning to their previous life: “At present there's no structured approach to help them return to employment, and employment is very valuable for cancer survivors for a number of reasons, ranging from identity to gaining an income,” she said.

“We would assist in communication with employers in such a way that appropriate information is conveyed to the employer so the work environment can be adapted if need.”

The study is being run as part of the hospital’s cancer survivorship program, all patients receiving treatment will soon be able to get involved.